Partition assembling machine



April 1, 1941. .1. L. GIL-LIAN ETAL PARTITION ASSEMBLING MACHINE 6Sheets-Sheet 1 IIEE EE- IIIVEI'L'LDT'E and J.T ..L'J"::IIIa1-1 EILNEIIIE6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventors and J.L.EII.IIIE1'1 E.D.N EIIIS Filed Feb. 9,1940 J. L. GILLIAN ETAL PARTITION ASSEMBLING MACHINE III/III u.

April 1, 1941.

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PARTITION ASSEMBLING MACIXINE Filed Feb. 9. 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 4Inven-tmrs and ..T.L.Er1I IIan II.D.NEII I5 April 1, 1941. GlLLIAN2.237.099

PARTITION ASSEMBLING' MACHINE Filed Feb. 9, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 VInventor's 2o and J.L.EI'IIIIE1'1 I EILNEIIIE Fltturnegs Patented Apr.1, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PARTITION ASSEMBLING moms JosephLouis Gillian and Carl Daniel Nellis, I

Milwaukee, W18.

Application February 9, 1910, Serial No. 318,110

28 Claims.

This invention appertains to the assembling of partitions for use inbottle crates, egg cartons, and the like.

Such partitions consist of longitudinal and transverse cardboard stripshaving their opposite edges notched or slotted at equidistantly spacedpoints for the interfitting and connection of the strips to form thepartitions of the bottle or egg cells. The longitudinal and transversestrips are assembled by hand, and such assembling is a laborious,expensive, and timeconsuming operation.

Therefore, one of the primary objects of the invention is the provisionof a machine for automatically. assembling the partitions, whereby toreduce the time and cost of the assembling operation.

Another salient object of the invention is the provision of an automaticpartition assembly machine embodying means for receiving thelongitudinal and transverse strips and for advancing the longitudinalstrips in a step-by-step motion and for delivering and connecting onetransverse .strip to the longitudinal strips on each step thereof.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of novelmeans for detachably looking the longitudinal strips to the carriage,whereby the strips will be properly advanced as the carriage movesforwardly in its step-by-step movement.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for automaticallyreleasing the longitudinal strips after the complete advancement of thestrips and for automatically returning the carriage to its initialposition for receiving additional longitudinal strips to form a newpartition.

A further important object of the invention is the provision of meansfor automatically removing a formed partition from the carriage at themoment of the release of the longitudinal strips therefrom and justprior to the return of the carriage to its initial starting position.

Another further object of the invention is the provision of automaticstop means for movement in the path of the longitudinal strips and uponthe ejecting of a formed partition, whereby to prevent feeding of thelongitudinal strips until the return of the carriage to itsstrip-receiving position.

A further important object of the invention is the provision of novelmeans for properly holding the longitudinal strips in alinement and forautomatically advancing the strips to the carriage, with means forholding and guiding the transverse strips centralized relative to thelongitudinal strips, whereby to insure the proper mating of the slots ofthe transverse and longitudinal strips upon downward movement of thetransverse strip.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of areciprocating head for stripping one transverse strip at a time from themagazine or hopper for the transverse strips in proper timed relation tothe advance of the longitudinal strips, so as-to insure the accurateconnection of the transverse and longitudinal strips.

A still further important object of the invention is the provision ofnovel means for driving all of the operative parts from a single driveshaft, whereby all of said operative parts will operate in proper timedrelation relative to one another.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an automaticpartition assembling machine of the above character, which will bedurable and eflicient in use, one that will be simple and easy tomanufacture, and one which can be placed upon the market at a reasonablecost.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in thenovel construction, arrangement, and formation of parts, as will behereinafter more specifically-described, claimed,

and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which drawings:

Figure l is a side elevational view of the automatic partitionassembling machine.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the machine, taken onthe line 22 of Figure 5, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view through the machine, taken onthe line 33 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, theview showing the assembly table in top plan.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional .view taken on the line 44 of Figure2, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the main operatingand timing shaft.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view through the machine, taken onthe line 55 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows,illustrating the means for feeding the longitudinal strips to theadvancing carriage and the head for delivering the transverse strips tothe longitudinal strips.

Figure 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, detail,

1 2 line 6-6 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of j the arrows.

j tional view taken on the line "looking in the direction of the arrows,and showing the assembly table in bottom plan and the Figure 7 is a'fragmentary, horizontal, sec- 1--'I of Figure 2,

automatic locking mechanism for the advancing carriage for thelongitudinal strips, the view he- 1 ing on a larger scale than Figure 2.

Figure 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary, detail,

the longitudinal strips to the carriage.

horizontal, Sectional view showing the releasable locking means fordetachably connecting plate, 28 of the carriage 21.}:

the forward ends of the spaced longitudinal bars The' longitudinalstrips 30 are adapted to' partially extend over the cross plate 28, and,hence,

Figure 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary, detail,

sectional view taken on the line 9 9- of Figure 3 3, looking in thedirection of the arrows, illusl trating a part of the releasablelocking'means for the longitudinal strips.

Figure 10 is an enlarged, detail, fragmentary, longitudinal, sectionalview showing the stop mechanism for limiting the forward movement j ofthe longitudinal strips during the return of the carriage to its initialstrip-receiving position. Figure 11 is an enlarged, fragmentary, longi-1 tudinal, sectional view taken on the line ll--ll of Figure 3, lookingin the direction of the arrows, showing a fragment of the ejectingmechanism for a formed partition.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary, longitudinal, sectional view taken on theline I2-l2 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows, showinganother part of the ejecting mechanism for a formed partition.

a filler plate 32 is secured to the top of the assembly table 24 in rearof the cross plate 28, so that the longitudinal strips will be held in aslightly raised position abo e the assembly table, whereby the forwardends of the longitudinal stripswill ride 'easily onto the cross plate.

Figure 13 is a detail, perspective view of a formed or assembledpartition.

Figure 14 is an enlarged, fragmentary, transverse, sectional view takenon the line l4-l4 of Figure 7, looking in the direction of the arrows,showing a. part of the means utilized for automatically'releasing thecarriage holding means.

upon return of the carriage to its initial position, the view furtherillustrating the arrangement of the assembling table and a guide trackfor the carriage.

Figure 15 is a fragmentary, transverse, sectional view through thehopper or magazine for the transverse strips, taken on the line l5i5 ofFigure 2, showing the means for centering the transverse strips relativeto the longitudinal strips.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar referencecharacters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,the letter A generally indicates the novel automatic partitionassembling machine, and the same includes a base frame 20, which can beof any desired or preferred construction.

As shown, the base frame 28 includes corner standards or legs 2ipreferably formed from channel iron. The upper ends of the cornerstandards 2| can be connected together by iongitudinally extending toprails 22, which can also be formed from channel iron. The standards canalso be connected together and braced in any other preferred manner,such as by trans verse and longitudinal angle irons 23. Thelongitudinally extending top rails 22 support the assembly table 24,which can be in the nature of a flat metal plate. The longitudinal edgesof the assembly table 24 are preferably spaced from the top rails 22 toform guide slots 25 on each side of the frame of the machine forslidably receiving the longitudinal bars 26 of the reciprocatorycarriage 21. The carriage also includes a cross plate 28, which isrigidly connected to Above the filler plate 32 is arranged a hopper ormagazine 33 for receiving a plurality of packed transverse strips 34 forthe partitions. The lower edges-of these transverse strips are notchedor slotted, as at 35, at equidistantly spaced points for receiving thelongitudinal strips 38, and the upper edges of the longitudinal stripsare equidistantl'y notched or slotted, as at 36, for receiving thetransverse strips. The longitudinal strips are fed in the machine on topof the filler' plate 32 and below the hopper 33, and the lower wall ofthe hopper 33 forms a top guide for the longitudinal strips and preventsthe longitudinal strips from riding up. A blade 31 extendslongitudinally and centrally of the magazine 33, and the center slots ofthe transverse partitions 34 receive the blade, and,

hence, the blade holds the transverse partitions row by row justforwardly of the bottom wall of the magazine 33. As a row of slots 33 isadvanced to the front of the lower wall of the hopper, the carriagemovement stops, and a stripper head 38 is employed for automaticallytaking the front transverse strip from the magazine and moving the samedownwardly into assembled relation with the longitudinal strips 30. Thestripper head 38 reciprocates in avertical plane transversely of theassembly table and is secured by clips or the like 39 to slide rods 40.These slide rods 40 extend through slide bearings 4| carried by a crossbar 42. The cross bar 42 is arranged above the assembly table and hasits ends firmly secured to a pair of spaced upright standards 43, whichare, in turn, secured to the frame 20 of the machine, and thesestandards 43 can form a part of the frame of the machine. The stripperhead 38 is normally held in a raised position by means of expansionsprings 44 coiled around the upper ends of the guide rods 40. As shownin Figures 1, 2, and 5, the springs 44areconfined between the cross bar42 and the collars 45 secured to the guide rods40. The lower ends of theguide rods 48 are connected together by a transverse rod 46, which canbe formed integral with the guide rods, if such should be desired. Therear face of the stripper head 38 carries a stripper blade 41, which isthe exact thickness or of slightly less thickness than the transversestrips 34.

The standards 43 carry suitable bearings 48 for the main drive shaft 49,which extends transvcrscly across the machine below the assembly table24. An electric drive motor 53 is employed for driving the machine, andany preferred drive mechanism can be employed between the motor and thedrive shaft. As illustrated,the armature shaft of the drive motor hassecured thereto a 51 for automatically operating the stripper head 38,and wiper arms 53 and 59 for automatically advancing the carriage 21.This operative connection will be more specifically described.

As illustrated in Figure 13, a partition (generally indicated by thereference character P) includes three equidistantly spaced longitudinalstrips 30 and a number, say five, of transverse strips 34. Hence, meansis provided for simul-- taneously receiving, guiding, and feeding threeof the longitudinal strips to the carriage. This means canvconsist ofequidistantly spaced feed rollers 60. Theserollers are preferably ribbedor otherwise roughened and are three in number and are keyed to threespaced driven shafts 6|. These drive rollers 60 engage one side of eachlongitudinal strip 34, and the other sides of the strips 34 are engagedand normally urged toward the roller 60 by idle rollers 62. These idlerollers 62 can alsobe milled or otherwise serrated, and each idle rolleris carried by a frame 63 mounted for swinging movement upon a supportingshaft 64. Springs 65 are employed for urging the frames in one directionand the rollers 62 toward the strips. The shafts 6i are mounted insuitable bearings on the frame 20, and each shaft carries a pulley wheel66 around which is trained a drive belt 61. The drive belts 61 extendtoward the main drive shaft 49, and these belts are trained over spacedguide pulleys 68 secured to the main shaft 49.

The transverse strips 34 are also automatically urged and fed toward thestripper head 38, and this means can consist of endless friction belts69 arranged on opposite sides of the magazine 33. The side walls of themagazine are slotted for receiving runs of the friction belts 69. Theends of the belts 69 are trained over idle rollers 10 rotatably carriedby the sides of the magazine, and an intermediate portion of each beltis engaged by a drive pulley ll. These drive pulleys II are rigidlysecured to vertical shafts I2, which are mounted in bearings 13 carriedby the frame of the machine. The lower ends of the shaft I2 have keyedor otherwise secured thereto drive pulley wheels 14, around which aretrained pulley belts 15. The pulley belts 15 are, in turn, trained aboutpulley wheels 16 keyed or otherwise secured to the main drive shaft 49.

In actual practice, a stack of the transverse strips 34 is placed in themagazine 33, and an operator feeds the longitudinal strips 33 by handbetween the feed roller 60 and the idle roller 62. The feed rollerscarry the strips forwardly, and the lower face of the bottom wall of themagazine carries spaced guide tracks 11 between which the upper edges ofthe longitudinal strips are received.

' prevent the return of the carriage.

In order to properly reciprocate,, ,the stripper head 33, the timing cam51 operates against a lever 13" pivotally, mounted atlts rear end'on abracket 19 carried by. the frame of the machine. The forward end of theswinging lever 13 is connected by a slotted lug with the cross bar 43 ofthe guide rods 43. Hence, as the timing cam 5'! moves downwardly, thelever 13 will be swung down, and the lever will carry the guide rods 44therewith and the stripper head. The stripper head 33 extends in frontof the magazine 33 at all times, and the lower edge of the head isslotted, as at 33, so as to receive the longitudinal strips 33. Thisallows the proper riding down of the stripper head. The blade 41 carriedby the rear face of the stripper head carries one transverse strip withthe head. The transverse strips are held down in the magazine by topstationary guide shoes M, which can be secured to the sides of themagazine 33. The guide shoes 3l'have their forward ends curved upwardly,as at 32, and the guide shoes function to push down any strips which maytend to ride up. Hence, the transverse strips are held in proper placeduring the reciprocation of the stripper head 38.

Referring specifically to the carriage 21, it is to be noted that theside bars 26 thereof have their lower surfaces provided at spaced pointswith depending strike plates or angle brackets 33. These strike platesor angle brackets 33 are in transverse alinementand are adapted to beengaged by the wiper arms 59 for advancing the carriage 21 one space, orthe distance between the slots 36 on each revolution of the shaft 49.

The carriage is normally urged back toward its initial starting positionby pull cables 34, which are secured at their upper ends to the forwardend of the carriage. An intermediate part of each cable is trained overa guide pulley 35, and the lower ends of the cables are attached to aswinging frame 86. This frame has its outer end provided with a weight81 for normally exerting a downward pull on the cables. ther add thedesired pull on the cables, contractile coil springs 38 can be connectedto the swinging frame 36 and the frame 20 of the machine. The tension ofthe springs 33 can be adjusted in any preferred manner.

Upon the advancing of the carriage in its stepby-step movement againstthe pull of the cables 84, the carriage is held against retrogrademovement by spring-pressed dogs 39. These dogs are rockably mountedintermediate their ends on pivot pins carried by the lower surface ofthe assembly table, and the dogs in rear of the pins have connectedthereto contractile coil springs 9|. These springs 9| are also connectedto the assembly table and tend to pull the inner ends of the dogs towardone another and the outer ends of the dogs toward the side bars 26 ofthe carriage 21.

Stops 92 can be carried by the assembly table and arranged in the pathof the inner ends of the dogs for limiting the inward swinging movementthereof, and the dogs have their inner ends tapered or inclined, as at93. The dogs are urged in the path of the strike plates or anglebrackets 83, and as the carriage is moved forward one step, the platespush in on the outer ends of the dogs, and as a pair of the anglebrackets 33 rides past the dogs, the dogs will snap outwardly and engagein rear of the angle brackets and When the carriage reaches its fullforward position, cams 94 carried by the side bars 21 will engage the Inorder to furouter ends of the dogs and swing the same inwardly entirelybeyond the inner edges of the side bars. This movement carries the dogsbeyond their normal operating position, and the inner inclined ends 93thereof will ride against and wipe past spring-pressed latches 95.

The latches 95 act to hold the dogs 89 away from the side bars ofthecarriage, so that the carriage can return back to full startingposition. The inner ends of the latches 95 are connected by acoil spring98, which normally urges the latches into their dog-holding position.The inner ends of the latches also have connected thereto pull cables91, which are connected to swinging levers 98. These levers 98 arehingedly connected to brackets 99, which depend from the assembly table24 of the machine.

When the carriage returns to its normal position, the cams 94 willstrike the levers 98 and pull the levers back. This rearward movement ofthe levers will pull on the cables 91 and swing the latches 95 out ofengagement with the dogs 89. This allows the dogs 89, under theinfluence of their springs 9|, to again return to their normal operativeposition for engaging the depending angle brackets 83 of the carriage.

The means 3I for detachably locking the longitudinal strips 30 to thecarriage 21 embodies a reciprocatory bolt I movable in guides IOI. Oneend of the bolt is'provided with a tapered cam face I02 for cooperationwith a stationary release cam plate I03 mounted upon the frame of themachine adjacent theouter end thereof. The sliding bolt I00 carriesright-angularly extending gripping jaws I04 on its outer face, and thesegripping jaws can be provided with friction pads I05 for engaging thestrips. These jaws I04 extend through guide slots I08 formed in theupright'stop plate I01 secured to the upper face of the cross plate 28of the carriage. The strips 30 are adapted to abut against the stopplate I01, and this stop plate can carry stationary guides or jaw-s I08.The outer ends of the guides or rigid jaws I08 are flared outwardly, as

at I09, so as to guide the strips 30 in position. and the jaws I04 areadapted to urge the strips into firm contact with the rigid jaws I08.

A contractile coil spring H0 is connected with the bolt I00 and one ofthe guide brackets IOI. Hence, the bolt is normally urged in onedirection with the jaws I04 into gripping contact with the strips. Ifpreferred, the rigid jaws and guides I08 can carry adjustable pointedscrews III, so as to provide means for biting into the longitudinalstrips 30 and, thus, insure the proper holding thereof during thestep-by-step advancing of the carriage 21.

When the carriage reaches its complete forward position, the inclinedcam face I02 of the bolt will engage the cam shoe or plate I03, and thebolt will be moved to the right (see Figures 3 and 8) against thetension of its coil spring H0, and, hence, the longitudinal strips 30will be released so as to permit the ejecting of a formed or assembledpartition P by the ejecting mechanism II2, which will be laterdescribed.

During the return of the carriage to its initial position, it isdesirable and essential that the bolt 3| be held in its releasedposition against the tension of the spring IIO, so that the strips 30will be permitted to ride on the cross plate-28 into engagement with thestop plate I01 and the guide and rigid jaws I08. The means for holdingthe bolt I00 in its retracted released position consists of a latchlever II3'r'ockably mounted intermediate its ends on a pivot pin II4carried by one of the guides IN. The bolt I00 has formed therein akeeper groove II5, which is adapted to aline with'the swinging latchlever II3 when the bolt is in its released position. A spring II8 isemployed for normally urging the swinging latch into contact with thebolt, and, hence, when the bolt moves to its released position, thelatch will spring into the keeper slot or groove H5 and hold the boltagainst return movement. When the carriage reaches its initial positionand the stripper head 38 moves downwardly for bringing a transversestrip into position, the latch II3 will be swung on its pivot II4 out ofthe keeper groove by the operating lug II'I carried by the outer face ofthe stripper head 38. Thus, as the first transverse strip 34 isbroughtinto position, the latch lever I I3 will be actuated, and the bolt I00will return to its normal position for permitting the gripping of thelongitudinal strips 30. Hence, upon the first step movement of thecarriage, the longitudinal strips 30 will be locked therewith and drawnalong thereby.

Upon the movement of the bolt I00 to its released position by the camplate or shoe I03 upon the completion of a partition P and just prior tothe return of the carriage to its normal position, the assembled orformed partition P is ejected from the assembly table and carriage b theejecting mechanism II2.

The'ejecting mechanism I I2 includes a pair of swinging ejecting armsII8, which move through a pair of spaced, parallel, longitudinal slotsII9 formed in the work table 24. The rear ends of the ejectin arms II8are rigidly secured to a common cross shaft or head I20. This crossshaft or head I20 carries pintles .I2I at its ends, which are rockablymounted in bearings carried by the frame of the machine. As best shownin Figures 11 and 12, the cross shaft or head I20 is of an angle shapein cross section, and the upper inner end of the head or shaft hasformed thereon an apertured ear I22, which pivotally receives a sliderod I23. The slide rod I23 is guided in its movement by-a dependingguide bracket I20 secured to the lower face of the assembly table 24.The outer forward end of the slide rod I23 has formed thereon aright-angularly extending, laterally disposed strike arm I25. Thisstrike arm I25 is arranged slightly beyond the cam plate or shoe I03employed for operating the bolt I00, and the strike arm is arranged inone of the slots or guide grooves 25 for the side bars 26 of thecarriage 21.

Thus, as the carriage moves forwardly and the bolt I00 is moved to itsreleased position by the cam shoe or .plate I03, the forward end of oneof the rails 26 of the carriage will forcibly strike the strike arm I25,which will pull back on the slide rod I29 and rock the cross shaft orhead I20. This movement will swing up the ejecting arms H8, and, thus,the arms will carry a completed partition P off the assembly table. The

. weight of the ejecting arms II8 will return all parts of the ejectingmechanism immediately to their normal positions upon retrograde movementof the carriage.

Upon the ejecting of a formed partition P and upon the return of thecarriage to its initial position, the longitudinal strips 30 beingadvanced by the feed rollers might inadvertently be carried to a too faradvanced position, so that upon the downward movement of the stripperhead a transverse strip would not properly register with the first slots38 in the longitudinal strips 30.

To prevent this condition, a U-shaped yoke I28 is provided.

This U-shaped yoke I28 includes spaced, parallel arms I21 and a frontcross piece I28, which is adapted to move through a transverse slot I29formed in the assembly table 24. when the cross plate 28' of thecarriage 21 moves forwardly. Likewise, the work table 24 is providedwith spaced parallel slots I38 to allow movement of the arms I2'I of theyoke through the table when the cross piece I28 extends up through thetransverse slot I29. The cross piece I28 is normally urged up throughthe slot I29 above the upper surface of the table by a contractile coilspring I 3|, which is connected respectively to the assembly table 24and the yoke. As best shown in Figure 18, when the carriage 21 with theformed partition rides past the yoke I26 and a formed partition has beenejected, the cross piece I28 of the yoke will be immediately raised byits spring I3I in the path of the longitudinal strips 38, .and, hence,the strips will be held against further forward movement, and the stripswill be held in proper alinement until the return of the carriage. Uponthe return of the carriage, the cross plate 28 thereof will push down onthe arms I2'I of the yoke I28, and, thus, the yoke will be returned toits normal position, and the plate 28 will ride under the forward endsof the strips 38 until the stop plate I81 engages thefront edges of thestrips.

As the carriage 21 is rather forcibly returned to its normal position bythe pull chains 84 and the swinging arms 86 with its weight 81 andspring 88, means is provided for absorbing shock of the return of thecarriage and to reduce any consequent noise. Thus, dashpots or rubber orother bumpers I32 are carried by the frame of the machine, and thesebumpers are disposed in the path of the side bars 28 of the carriage.The

. bumpers can be of any desired character.

As the side bars 26 of the carriage 21 strike the bumpers I32, thecarriage may have a tendency to move back and forth before coming to arest. To eliminate this, the cross plate 28 of the carriage can have itsside edges provided with keeper notches I34 into which are adapted ,tospring temporary holding dogs I35. These dogs are rockably mounted attheir forward ends on pivot pins I38 carried by the side rails 22 of theframe. The inner ends of the dogs are urged toward the cross plate 28 byexpansion springs I3'I. Inward movement of the dogs is limited by stoppins I38. When the cross plate 28 returns to its normal position, thedogs I35 will immediately snap into the keeper notches I34 and hold thecross plate against movement. As the teeth of the dogs are of a V-shape,the dogs will be readily forced out of the keeper notches I34 as thecarriage is forcibly advanced in its step-by-step movement.

As brought out in the first part of the specification, the side bars 28of the carriage 21 slide back and forth in the guide slots or ways 25formed between the work table 24 and the U- shaped side rails 22. Inorder to support and guide the bars 26, the frame carries longitudinallyextending guide tracks I33, which engage the lower surface of the sidebars 28 of the carriage. As best shown in Figure 7, the angle lugs 83carried by the side bars engage the inner faces of the guide tracks I33,so as to prevent side movement of the carriage.

Briefly, the operation of the machine is as follows. The stack oftransverse strips 34 is forced at all times toward the stripper head 38by the feed belts 89, and operators constantly feed the longitudinalstrips 38 between the feed rollers 88 and the idle rollers 82, and thesefeed rollers function to continuously urge the longitudinal stripsforwardly. The front ends of the strips 38 are locked on the carriage bythe bolt I88, and the carriage is advanced in a step-bystep movement bythe wiper arms 69 on the main shaft 49. As the carriage advances andcomes to a stop, the cam 51 moves down against the swinging lever 18,which, in turn, brings down the slide and guide rods 48 carrying thehead 38 to a lower position. The stripper blade 41 thereon takes onetransverse strip 34 from the magazine and carries the same into itsassembled position on the longitudinal strips 38. This movementcontinues until the partition is completely formed and the longitudinalstrips 38 thereof have ridden beyond the stripper head 38 and theforward end of the magazine or hopper 33.

At this time, the bolt I88 is released and immediately the ejecting armsII8 of the ejector I I2 carry the formed partition P off the assemblytable. As the formed partition is moved off the assembly table, the triparms 94 carried by the side bars 26 of the carriage engage the holdingdogs 89 and move the same out of the path of the angle lugs'83. Hence,the carriage returns immediately to its normal position under theinfiuence of the pull cables 84 and the swinging frame 88 with itsweight 8'! and its spring 88.

As soon as the carriage returns to its normal position, the trip cams 94then engage the levers 98, and the swinging movement of the leversoperate the catches 95, so as to release the dogs 89, whereby the samecan again perform their function of holding the carriage against itsreturn movement as the same is advanced in its step-bystep movement.

From the foregoing description it can be seen that we have provided anexceptionally simple and durable machine which will effectively bringabout the assembling of the transverse strips with longitudinal stripsof a partition, whereby to effectively form complete partitions for usein bottle crates, egg crates, and the like.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or-thescope of the invention, but what we claim as new is:

1. A partition assembling machine comprising, an assembly table, acarriage movable in a stepby-step movement over the table, means formomentarily holding the carriage against movement on each step thereof,means for detachably connecting longitudinal partition strips to thecarriage, means for supporting a pack of trans.- verse strips above thecarriage and table, and means for stripping one strip at a time fromsaid pack and delivering the same to the longitudinal strips upon eachstep movement of the carriage and while the carriage and longitudinalstrips are held stationary.

2. A partition assembling machine comprising, an assembly table, acarriage reciprocally mounted on the assembly table,.means forintermittently moving the carriage in one direction over the table in astep-by-step movement, means for detachably securing longitudinal stripsthereto in spaced upright position, means for feeding transverse stripsto the longitudinal strips on each step one direction and after thecompletion of the assembly of a partition unit.

3. A partition assembling machine comprising,

an assembly table, a carriage reciprocally mounted on the assemblytable, means for intermittently moving the carriage in one directionover the table in a step-by-step movement, means for detachably securinglongitudinal strips thereto in spaced upright position, means forfeeding transverse strips to the longitudinal strips on each stepmovement of the carriage, means for releasing the. longitudinal stripsfrom the carriage after the carriage has reached its limit of movementin 3 one direction and after the completion of a partition, and meansfor ejecting a completed partition from the carriage after the releaseof the one direction and after the completion of a parti- I tion, andmeans for automatically ejecting a completed partition from the carriageand assembly table upon the release of the longitudinal strips from thecarriage. v

5. A partition assembling machine comprising, an assembly table, acarriage reciprocally mounted on the assembly table, means forintermittently moving the carriage in one direction over the table in astep-by-step movement, means for detachably securing longitudinal stripsthereto in spaced upright position, means for feeding transverse stripsto the longitudinal strips on each step movement of the carriage, meansfor releasing the longitudinal strips from the carriage after thecarriage has reached its limit of movement in one directionand after thecompletion of a partition, means for automatically ejecting a completedpartition from the carriage and assembly table upon the release of thelongitudinal strips from the carriage, and means for automaticallyreturning the carriage to its initial starting position upon theejecting of a completed partition therefrom.

'6. A partition assembling machine comprising, an assembly table, acarriage slidably mounted on the table, means for releasably lockinglongitudinal partition strips to the carriage, means for intermittentlymoving the carriage and the strips therewith in one direction on thetable, means for automatically releasing the strips from the carriageafter a predetermined travel of the carriage in said mentioneddirection, means retuming the carriage to its initial position on thetable after the release of said strips, and means for feeding strips tothe carriage and strip locking means.

7. A partition assembling machine comprising, an assembly table, acarriage movable longitudinally of the table, means intermittentlymoving the carriage in one direction in a step-by-step movement alongthe table, means normally functioning to return the carriage to itsinitial position in one continuous movement, automatic means for holdingthe carriageagainst movement after each step thereof, means forreleasably locking spaced, parallel, longitudinal strips to thecarriage, means for automatically releasing the strips after thecarriage reaches a predetermined position, and means for automaticallydelivering transverse partition strips to, the longitudinal stripsduring the holding of the carriage after each step movement thereof.

8. A partition assembling machine comprising, an assembly table, acarriage movable longitudinally of the table, means intermittentlymoving the carriage in one direction in a step-by-step movement alongthe table, means normally functioning to return the carriage to itsinitial position in one continuous movement, automatic means for holdingthe carriage against move,- ment after each step thereof, means forreleasably locking spaced, parallel, longitudinal strips to thecarriage, meansfor automatically releasing the strips after the carriagereaches a predetermined position, means for automatically deliveringtransverse partition strips to the longitudinal strips during theholding of the carriage after each step movement thereof, and means forautomatically releasing the carriage holding means after the carriagehas completed its movement in one direction and after the release of thelongitudinal strips, whereby to permit the automatic Y return of thecarriage to its initial position.

9. A partition assembling machine comprising, an assembly table, acarriage movable over the table, a magazine for transverse stripsarranged in spaced parallel relation to the carriage and table,transverse strips movable in the magazine toward the forward endthereof, the magazine and table defining a guideway forlongitudinalpartition strips, means for feeding longitudinal partition strips insaid way to the carriage, means for detachably locking the longitudinalstrips to the carriage, means for automatically releasing the lockingmeans for the longitudinal strips when the carriage reaches apredetermined position, and means for automatically stripping onetransverse strip at a time from the magazine and delivering the same tothe longitudinal strips at predetermined intervals.

10. A partition assembling machine comprising, an assembly table, amagazine arranged above the table, transverse partition strips arrangedin the magazine, the magazine and table defining a way for longitudinalpartition strips, a carriage movable longitudinally of the table, meansreleasably locking the longitudinal strips to the carriage, meansfeeding the longitudinal strips along said way to the carriage, meansfor intermittently advancing the carriage in a step-by-step movement inone direction along the table, means for feeding the transverse stripstoward the front of the magazine, a stripper head normally disposed infront of the magazine for preventing forward movement of the transversestrips out of the magazine, a stripper blade carried by said head formoving one transverse partition at atime I down from said magazine, andmeans for reciprocating the head at predetermined intervals toward andaway from the carriage and longitudinal strips.

1 1. A partition assembling machine comprising, an assembly table, acarriage movable over the table, means for intermittently advancing thecarriage in a step-by-step movement in one direction along the table,means normally tending to return the carriage to its initial startingposition, a magazine disposed above the carriage and table, a pluralityof transverse partition strips disposed in said magazine having theirlower edges provided with spaced slots, means for feeding the transversepartitions along the magazine toward the front thereof, a stripper headnormally disposed in front of the magazine for holding the transversepartitions against movement out of the front of the magazine, a stripperblade carried by the head for'moving one transverse strip at a time downfrom the magazine, means for reciprocating the head in proper timedrelation relative to the movement of the carriage, and means for holdingthe transverse strips in an upright position in the magazine againsttwisting movement and centralized relative to the longitudinal strips.

12. A partition assembling machine comprising, an assembly table, acarriage movable over the table, means for intermittently advancing thecarriage in a step-by-step movement in one direction along the table,means normally tending to return the carriage to its initial startingposition, a magazine disposed above the carriage and table, a pluralityof transverse partition strips disposed in said magazine having theirlower edges provided with spaced slots, means for feeding the transversepartitions along the magazine toward the front thereof, a stripper headnormally disposed in front of the magazine for holding the transversepartitions against movement out of the front of the magazine, a stripperblade carried by the head for moving one transverse strip at a time downfrom the magazine, means for reciprocating the head in proper timedrelation relative to the movement of the carriage, and means for holdingthe transverse strips in an upright position in the magazine againsttwisting movement and centralized relative to the longitudinal strips,said last-named means including a blade extending longitudinally of themagazine and engaged in one of the slots of the transverse strips.

13. A partition assembly machine comprising, an assembly table, acarriage movable over the table, a main operating shaft, means forcontinuously rotating the shaft in one direction, means for advancingthe carriage in a step-bystep movement in one direction along the tablefrom the shaft, means for releasably locking longitudinal partitionstrips to the carriage, a maga zine for transverse partition stripsarranged above the table, carriage, and longitudinal strips, areciprocally mounted stripper head mounted transversely of the table infront of the magazine, a stripper blade on the head for engaging onetransverse strip at a time in the magazine, and means for reciprocatingthe head from the main operating shaft in proper timed relation to theoperating means for the carriage.

14. A partition assembly machine comprising, an assembly table, acarriage movable over the table, a main operating shaft, means forcontinuously rotating the shaft in one direction, means for advancingthe carriage in a step-by-step movement in one direction along the tablefrom the shaft, means for releasably locking longitudinal partitionstrips to the carriage, a magazine for transverse partition stripsarranged above the table, carriage, and longitudinal strips, areciprocally mounted stripper head mounted trans versely of the table infront of the magaz ne, a stripper blade on the head for engaging onetransverse strip at a time in the magazine, means for reciprocating thehead from the main operating shaft in proper timed relation to theoperating means for the carriage, means for feeding the longitudinalstrips to the carriage, means for feeding the transverse strips alongthe magazine, and means for operating the feeding means for thelongitudinal strips and the transverse strips from the main operatingshaft.

15. A partition assembling machine comprising, an assembly table, acarriage slidably mounted on the table, means for positively moving thecar- I riage in a step-by-step movement along the table in onedirection, means for releasably locking longitudinal partition strips tothe carriage whereby l the strips will be moved along the table with thecarriage, and means for feeding longitudinal strips to the carriageincluding power-driven friction wheels for engaging one side of thepartition strips, and spring-urged idle rollers for engaging the othersides of the partition strips, said driven and idle friction rollersbeing disposed adjacent the front end of the machine and in spaced relation to the initial position of the carriage.

16. A partition assembling machine comprising, an assembly table, amagazine arranged in spaced parallel relation to the table, longitudinalpartition strips movable over the table below the magazine, areciprocating stripper head disposed in front of the magazine andmovable in a vertical plane in front of the magazine, a stripper bladecarried by the head for engaging one transverse strip at a time in themagazine during downward movement of the head, and means for normallyurging the transverse strips in the magazine toward the head includingpower-driven friction belts carried by the opposite sides of themagazine and engaging the opposite ends of the transverse strips.

17. A partition assembling machine comprising, an assembly table, amagazine arranged in spaced parallel relation to the table, longitudinalpartition strips movable over the table below the magazine, areciprocating stripper head disposed in front of the magazine andmovable in a vertical plane in front of the magazine, a

stripper blade carried by the head for engaging one transverse strip ata time in the magazine during downward movement of the head, means fornormally urging the transverse strips in the magazine toward the headincluding power-driven friction belts carried by the opposite sides ofthe magazine and engaging the opposite ends of the transverse strips,and guide shoes carried by the upper forward end of the magazine havingcurved inner leading terminals for holding said transverse strips downagainst the bottom wall of the magazine ,during reciprocation of thestripper head.

18. A partition assembling machine comprising, an assembly table, acarriage movable longitudinally of the table, means for detachablylocking spaced longitudinal partition strips to the carriage, anoperating shaft, means for driving the operating shaft, means forintermittently advancing the carriage in a step-by-step movement in onedirection from the operating shaft, a magazine for transverse partitionstrips disposed above the carriage and table, a reciprocating stripperhead arranged transversely of the table and movable in a vertical planein front of the magazine, a stripper blade on the head for engaging onetransverse partition at a time for carrying a transverse partition downfrom the machine, guide rods connected with the stripper head, a yokeconnecting the lower ends of the guide rods together, spring meansengaging the guide rods normally urging the rods, yoke, and head to araised position, a swinging lever rockably mounted on the machineoperatively conin the table, means releasably connecting longitudinectedto the yoke, and a wiper cam on the operating shaft for engaging andoperating the ilever.

19. A partition assembling machine comprisan assembly table, a carriagemovable over nal partition strips to the carriage, an operating shaft,means for intermittently moving the carriage in a step-by-step movementfrom the shaft including wiper arms secured to and extendingradiallyfrom the shaft, and equidistantly spaced depending lugs on thecarriage arranged in the path of the arms.

20. A partition assembling machine comprising, an assembly table, acarriage movable over the table, means releasably connectinglongitudinal partition strips to the carriage, an operating shaft, meansfor intermittently moving the carriage in a step-by-step movement fromthe shaft j including wiper arms secured to and extending radially fromthe shaft, equidistantly spaced depending lugs on the carriage arrangedin the path of the arms, means normally tending to return the carriageto its normal position in one continuous movement, and spring-presseddogs for releasably engaging the lugs for holding the carriage againstretrograde movement after the advancement thereof in its step-by-stepmovement.

21. A partition assembling machine comprising, an assembly table, acarriage movable over the table, means releasably connectinglongitudcontinuous movement, spring-pressed dogs for I releasablyengaging the lugs for holding the carriage against retrograde movementafter the advancement thereof in its step-by-step movement, and meansfor moving the dogs out of engagement with the lugs when the carriagereaches the limit of its movement in one direction, whereby to permitthe automatic return of the carriage to its initial starting position.

22. A partition assembling machine compris ing, an assembly table, acarriage movable over the table, means releasably connectinglongitudinal partition strips to the carriage, an operating shaft, meansfor intermittently moving the carriage in a step-by-step movement fromthe shaft including wiper arms secured to and extending radially fromthe shaft, equidistantly spaced dependinglugs on the carriage arrangedin the path of the arms, means normally tending to return the carriageto its normal position in one continuous movement, spring-pressed dogsfor releasably-en'gaging the lugs for holding the carriage againstretrograde movement after the ad-. vancement thereof in its step-by-stepmovement, means for moving the dogs out of engagement with the lugs whenthe carriage reaches the limit of its movement in one direction, wherebyto permit the automatic return of the carriage to its initial startingposition, and means for render ing the dogs operative again after thereturn. of

the carriage to its initial position.

23. A partition assembling machine comprising, an assembly table, acarriage movable over the assembly table, means for releasably lockinglongitudinal partition strips to the carriage,

means for automatically releasing the longitudinal strip locking meansafter the carriage reaches a predetermined position, and means forautomatically ejecting the partition strips from the carriage after therelease thereof including swinging arms movable through the table, andmeans for operating the arms from the carriage at the end of the travelof the carriage.

24. A partition assembling machine comprising, an assembly table, acarriage movable over the table, means for intermittently operating thecarriage in a step-by-step movement toward one end of the table, meansfor automatically returning the carriage to its initial startingposition after the carriage has completed its travel in one direction,means for releasably locking longitudinal partition strips to thecarriage, means for automatically releasing the strips from the carriagejust prior to the end of the travel of the carriage in' one direction,means for ejecting the strips from the carriage after the releasethereof and upon the completion of the movement of the carriage in onedirection including arms movable through the table, a rockable crossshaft connecting the arms, a pull rod connected to the forward end ofthe cross shaft, and a laterally extending foot on the pull rod disposedin the path of 'the carriage.

25. A partition assembling machine comprising, an assembly table, acarriage movable over the table, means for advancing the carriageintermittently over the table in a step-by-step movement in onedirection, means for releasably connecting longitudinal partition stripsto the carriage, means for continuously feeding strips toward thecarriage, means for automatically releasing the strip-holding means fromthe carriage when the carriage reaches a predetermined position, meansfor automatically returning the carriage to its initial startingposition upon the 'release of the partitions from the carriage, andmeans movable in the path of oncoming strips from the strip-feedingmeans for holding the strips in predetermined position until the returnof the carriage to its initial position.

26. A partition assembling machine comprising, an assembly table, acarriage movable over the table, means for advancing the carriageintermittently over the table in a step-by-step movement in onedirection, means for releasably connecting longitudinal partition stripsto the carriage, means for continuously feeding strips toward thecarriage, means for automatically releasing the strip-holding means fromthe carriage when the carriage reaches a predetermined position, meansfor automatically returning the carriage to its initial startingposition upon the release of the partitions from the carriage, and meansmovable in the path of oncoming strips from the strip-feeding means forholding the strips in predetermined position until the return of thecarriage to its initial position, said means including a swinging yoke,spring means normally urging the yoke above the table and in the path ofoncoming strips, the yoke being movable below the table by saidcarriage.

27. A partition assembling machine comprising, an assembly table, acarriage movable over the table including a cross plate slidablyengaging the table for receiving the front ends of Iongitudinal strips,an upright stop plate for the strips carried by the cross plate, rigidstop jaws on the stop plate for engaging one side of the strips, andmovable jaws forwengaging the 0pposite sides of the strips for holdingthe strips against the rigid jaws and releasably locked to the carriage,and means for moving the releasable jaws to a released position when thecarriage reaches the end of its travel in one direction.

28. A partition assembling machine comprising, an assembly table, acarriage movable over the assembly table including a cross plateslidably engaging the upper face of the table, means for intermittentlymoving the carriage in one direction over the table, a stop plateextending upright from the cross plate, the cross plate being adapted toreceive the front lower corners of longitudinally extending partitionstrips, stationary clamping jaws on the stop strip for engaging one faceof each strip, a bolt slidably carried by the carriage having aplurality of jaws movable toward and away from the rigid jaws forengaging the other faces of the longitudinal strips for releasablylocking the strips against the rigid jaws, spring means normally urgingthe bolt and the movable jaws toward the rigid jaws, and a cam platearranged in the path of the bolt for moving the bolt against the tensionof its spring means and the movable jaws away from the rigid jaws torelease the longitudinal strips when the carriage'reaches apredetermined position. JOSEPH LOUIS GILLIAN. CARL DANIEL NELLIS.

